Penn State DuBois Keeps Rolling, Earns Programs First Ever PSUAC Softball Championship

DUBOIS, Pa. - It's been a long time since the PSUAC had a Cinderella run in its Softball Championship Tournament, but 2025 provided one. Penn State DuBois, the tournament's four-seed, provided the storyline, going undefeated through the entirety of the event as they won three of their four games against higher seeded teams en route to the program's first ever PSUAC Softball Championship. 

Not only did DuBois provide an incredible story-arc throughout the tournament, but may have saved its best for last. Trailing 3-0 heading into the sixth inning, Natalie Bowser tied it with a three-run homer to deep right centerfield. Theresa Luongo relieved starter Kelsey Stuart in the seventh and go three straight outs to give DuBois an opportunity to walk-off with a win. 

Jessy Frank singled up the middle with one out and advanced to third as Makena Baney reached on an error. Sienna Barnhart walked to load the bases and Chelsea Busatto came to the plate with a chance to play hero. She obliged, cracking a line drive single to centerfield to plate Frank for a 4-3 win and begin the championship celebration for the first time in program history.

Busatto finished the day 3-for-4, scoring on Bowser's home run and driving in the game-winning run. Kelsey Stuart went six strong innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and scattered seven hits while striking out three before Luongo's clean inning. Stuart also added two hits and a run scored.

Paige Loudenslager took the loss, but was strong through the first five innings. Five of the nine hits by DuBois came in the final two innings as Loudenslager struck out five on the night and walked just two. 

Mont Alto jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning as Hailey Spielman and Kira Weikert each singled home a run. Alyssa Wiles added a triple in the fifth, scoring on the same play as DuBois committed one of its two errors. 

The win for DuBois earns them the PSUAC's automatic bid to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Softball Small College World Series set to begin May 12 in DuBois, Pa. Mont Alto, along with multiple other PSUAC teams, will await word on an at-large bid during Monday's USCAA Bid Show.